Our horse racing expert gives his weekly Cheltenham Festival antepost tips ahead of the 2025 meeting, looking ahead to some of the biggest races of the week in a bid to find value in the futures market…
Cheltenham Antepost Tips So Far:
- Tip 1 – IL EST FRANCAIS (e/w) in the Cheltenham Gold Cup
- Tip 2 – JONBON to win the Queen Mother Champion Chase
- Tip 3 – DYSART ENOS (e/w) in the Mares Hurdle
- Tip 4 – FIREFOX (e/w) in the Arkle
- Tip 5 – STUMPTOWN (e/w) in the Cross Country Handicap Chase
- Tip 6 – STATE MAN to win the Champion Hurdle
- Tip 7 – JEROBOAM MACHIN (e/w) in the Supreme Novices Hurdle
- Tip 8 – TOUCH ME NOT (e/w) in the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual
- Tip 9 – KOPEK DES BORDES (e/w) in the Turners Novices Hurdle
- Tip 10 – EL FABIOLO (e/w) in the Queen Mother Champion Chase
- Tip 11 – ANNO POWER (e/w) in the Mares Novices Hurdle
- Tip 12 – LULAMBA (e/w) in the Triumph Hurdle
- Tip 13 – SPRINGWELL BAY (e/w) in the Ultima Handicap Chase
- Tip 14 – WINGED LEADER (e/w) in the Hunter Chase
- Tip 15 – AMEN KATE (e/w) in the Champion Bumper
- Tip 16 – HOME BY THE LEE (e/w) in the Stayers Hurdle
- Tip 17 -WODHOOH (e/w) in the Coral Cup
- Tip 18 – KOPECK DE MEE (e/w) in the County Hurdle
- Tip 19 – BALLYBOW (e/w) in the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle
Cheltenham Festival 2025 Tip 19
The Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle is the longest novice hurdle run at the Cheltenham Festival.
Introduced in 2005 when a fourth day was added to the schedule, it is still registered as the Spa Novices’ Hurdle.
The three mile Grade One has certainly been a stepping stone for future stars, including Cheltenham Gold Cup winners Bobs Worth and Minella Indo.
Who are the main Albert Bartlett contenders this season?
No favourite has been successful in the race since 2013, but The Yellow Clay (7/2) will be hoping to buck that trend. He has won on all four of his starts over hurdles and strolled away with the Grade One Lawlor’s Of Naas Novices’ Hurdle in January.
His trainer Gordon Elliott won this with 33/1 outsider Stellar Story a year ago so it may well be worth giving his second/thirds strings the once over before you place your bets.
Henry De Bromhead’s mare The Big Westerner (7/1) has been well supported too. The six-year-old was a clearcut winner of a Grade Two novice event at Limerick after Christmas and appears to be an out-and-out stayer.
Willie Mullins’ Final Demand (8/1) was a relatively short ante-post price for this for many months, and he showed us why when sailing home in Grade One at the Dublin Racing Festival. Given the new weight of money behind The Yellow Clay, our traders have pushed Final Demand out a few points.
The team behind Wendigo (14/1) believe an attritional stamina test will play right to his strengths.
After winning four of his seven starts for Jamie Snowden and finishing second in the Grade 1 Challow Novices’ Hurdle to the The New Lion, his prospects look very good at The Festival.
Wendigo booked his Albert Bartlett berth with victory at odds of 1-11 in the betting at Wetherby. Admittedly it was a weak race but he got the job done in fine style.
French raider Jet Blue (14/1) stayed on strongly to run out a convincing winner of the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham’s December meeting, and will return with high hopes of a repeat showing.
Jet Blue had previously claimed three bumper victories and one success over flights for Hugo Merienne but was having his first outing for David Cottin at Prestbury Park. If he can brush up his jumping slightly, then he can bring some of his previous Auteuil form to the table if the race develops into a true stamina test.
Gordon Elliott’s Ballybow (14/1) also merits consideration.
The six-year-old son of Flemensfirth was a £110,000 purchase at the Goffs UK Spring sale last May and runs in the famous silks of Gigginstown House Stud.
Last seen in the Grade Three Surehaul Mercedes-Benz Novice Hurdle at Thurles, he justified his short odds of 5/6 with a half-length defeat of Ballygunner Castle.
Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle antepost tip: Ballybow (E/W) in our Cheltenham betting market.
Cheltenham Festival 2025 Tip 18
Staged over an extended two miles on the final day of Jump racing’s Olympics, Gold Cup Day, the William Hill County Handicap Hurdle will take place on Friday 14th March in 2025. It is always one of the Festival’s most competitive contests and frequently attracts a maximum field.
The County Hurdle is always a great betting heat and over the years some incredible hurdlers have used it as a springboard to greatness.
Who are the main contenders for the County Hurdle?
Several horses stood out at the Dublin Racing Festival, not least among them the Emmet Mullins-trained McLaurey (6/1).
The manner of his victory in a very competitive Listed handicap hurdle led to him being installed as the new betting market favourite for the County Hurdle.
JP McManus snapped this horse up after winning an Irish point by eight lengths in November 2023 and connections have brought him to the boil, slowly but surely.
Emmet Mullins has trained handicap winners at the Cheltenham Festival before and this lightly raced six-year-old holds plenty of credentials for a race such as this.
Kitzbuhel (10/1) made it two wins from as many starts for Willie Mullins with a determined victory in the Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran Park on February 15th, and his price for the County Hurdle shortened as a result.
However, punters should be aware that after the race, Mullins said: “I’m probably looking at Liverpool, more so than Cheltenham with him, with the timing of the race”, so tread carefully.
Despite being off the track for nine months, Storm Heart (10/1) ran a cracker to be second to McLaurey at Leopardstown.
Fifth in the JCB Triumph Hurdle last March, there looks to be plenty going for him on the handicap scene, especially with cut in the ground. According to Willie Mullins, he will go down the handicap route at Cheltenham.
Lark in the Mornin (10/1) claimed victory in the Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle at last season’s Festival, and will be bidding for yet another Cheltenham success twelve months later.
The five-year-old’s seasonal bow at Leopardstown was a little underwhelming, but he was probably just in need of the run and can come back to Prestbury Park firing on all cylinders.
French form students will be keen for Kopek De Mee (10/1) to be given a Coral entry.
The five-year-old was trained by Joel Boisnard in France, winning on the Flat before sent jumping. Successful in three of his five races over hurdles, including a Listed contest at Auteuil, the form that day has subsequently been franked with a top performance from the third in a Grade One contest.
JP McManus’ famous green and gold silks could well be flying high again with this Gallic recruit.
Last, but not least, Absurde (10/1) added the Listed Chester Stakes to his Ebor and County Hurdle victories last year, before finishing fifth in the Melbourne Cup.
Who would bet against Willie Mullins’ versatile six-year-old holding onto his County Hurdle title?
County Hurdle antepost tip: Kopeck De Mee (E/W)
Cheltenham Festival 2025 Tip 17
The Coral Cup, run over two miles and five furlongs, was introduced to the Festival in 1993 and is one of the season’s most competitive handicap hurdle races. It is always a popular race with punters too as they endeavour to find the value price about a horse they consider to have been laid out for the contest.
Langer Dan created history last year by becoming the first dual winner of the Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle, as he repeated his success of 2023.
Who are the Coral Cup contenders for 2025?
Twelve months on from Langer Dan’s victory, the Dan Skelton-trained Be Aware appears to have been campaigned with a big target like this in mind.
The six-year-old ran a great race on his return to action from a 204-day break at Cheltenham over two miles when second behind Burdett Road in the Greatwood Hurdle.
Be Aware has the right profile for the Coral Cup trip, and was last seen over the two miles and five furlongs distance finishing runner-up to Kamsinas in a Novices’ Hurdle at Kempton in March 2024. He ticks plenty of the right boxes for a typical Coral winner.
Third in the Champion Bumper at Prestbury Park back in 2022 James’s Gate could have another Cheltenham Festival trip on his agenda after an eye-catching victory at Navan.
Trainer Martin Brassil will consider the Coral Cup for the eight-year-old, for which he is now an 8/1 shot in our horse racing betting, although the novice heats are not completely ruled out.
James’s Gate has obviously had his training problems but he looks in a good place now and will be a popular pick at Cheltenham, especially amongst Irish punters.
Catching the interest of bettors in recent days is the Gordon Elliott-trained Wodhooh.
This smart filly first caught our eye when she trotted up in a Listed Fillies’ Juvenile Hurdle at Doncaster in January 2024.
She was then missing for some 322 days, before roaring back with a 1¾ victory over Joyeuse in a Mares’ Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham.
That form has well and truly been franked since with the runner-up Joyeuse going on to take the William Hill Hurdle, Take No Chances becoming a Grade 2 scorer and Royale Margaux now a Listed winner. It is easy see why her odds are tumbling all the time for both this race and the Martin Pipe.
At larger odds in our sports betting, the lightly-raced Bo Zenith has already proved himself capable at the highest level for the Nicky Henderson stable.
Formerly trained by Gary Moore, the six-year-old was just touched off at Aintree last year in a Grade 1 Hurdle and has performed well this season at Cheltenham and Ascot.
Coral Cup antepost tip: Wodhooh (E/W)
Cheltenham Festival 2025 Tip 16
The Stayers’ Hurdle is the ultimate stamina test for distance hurdlers.
Run over three miles, it’s the most prestigious long-distance hurdle race in the racing calendar, introduced in 1972 to The Cheltenham Festival.
As is often the case in a Grade One hurdle, all horses carry the same weight of 11st 10lb.
Recent winners on the roll of honour include Baracouda, Inglis Drever, Big Buck’s and the ever popular punter’s friend – Thistlecrack.
Who are the main contenders for the 2025 renewal of the Stayers’ Hurdle?
Former jockey turned pundit, Ruby Walsh reckons Teahupoo sets the standard in the Stayers’ Hurdle and is finding it increasingly difficult to oppose the current 5/4 favourite in the betting.
Gordon Elliott’s defending champion was a brilliant winner last season but was no match for Lossiemouth when second in the Hatton’s Grace at Fairyhouse on his sole run this campaign.
Teahupoo became the first horse to win the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham and follow up in the equivalent race at Punchestown since Anzum in 1999. He clearly sets the standard again this year and will be a tough nut to crack back at Prestbury Park.
Home By The Lee has tried and failed to win the Stayers’ Hurdle three times now, but he has run admirably on each occasion and looks an altogether more rounded and mature horse this season.
He began his current campaign with a three-and-a-half length defeat of Bob Olinger at Navan before doing the same thing again in the Grade One Savills Hurdle over the Christmas period. That run has to rank as his best yet and he comes into his Stayers’ attempt number four, at the very top of his game.
The Nicky Henderson-trained Lucky Place saw off a decent field to land the Grade Two Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham, and cutting his Stayers’ Hurdle odds in the process.
Henderson said after his victory: “It’s a division that is open and I think he has earned his ticket to the Stayers’. We don’t have anything else for the race.” As we all know, Henderson is not the kind of trainer who will put a horse into a race without having a great chance.
Gordon Elliott’s progressive six-year-old, The Wallpark is another horse that is popular in the antepost market for the Stayers’.
Beaten just 3½ lengths by Crambo in the Long Walk, JP McManus’ seven-year-old is a multiple scorer and connections certainly believe he will hold his own once more in this calibre of a race.
After his brilliant victory in the Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park, Rocky’s Diamond became a live contender for this staying feature.
Declan Queally’s Five-year-proved that his 66/1 third in the Grade One Savills Hurdle was no fluke when he a battled on well to register a one-and-a-quarter-length success at Gowran.
Stayers Hurdle antepost tip: Home By The Lee (E/W)
Cheltenham Festival 2025 Tip 15
Introduced in 1992, the Champion Bumper was handed Grade One status in 1996 and it has been sponsored by Wetherbys since 1997.
To an outsider, it’s quite a peculiar looking race as there are no hurdles or fences to be jumped and that takes some explaining to the fist time novice punter/viewer.
The event, open to four, five and six-year-olds only, has been a huge success since its inception and has been the stepping stone for a host of future stars, including former household names such as Florida Pearl and Cue Card.
Horses that finish further down the field also often go on to reach some lofty heights, so it is definitely a race to take notes from when it comes to future Festivals further down the line.
So who are the main contenders for the 2025 renewal?
One horse that has already garnered considerable attention in the antepost betting is Kalypso’chance (7/1) for the Gordon Elliott team.
The youngster was even endorsed by the main rival camp when Patrick Mullins picked up a spare on the Elliott horse at Navan.
The four-year-old is currently two from two on the victory front and his Gigginstown owners have a nice horse to go to war with now, and in the future.
The clear standard-setter in the division this campaign appears to be Windbeneathmywings (7/1) who was a wide-margin winner of a listed bumper at Ascot after joining David Pipe from Pat Flynn in Ireland.
Writing in his weekly West Sommerset Free Press column, just days after the victory, Pipe said explained: “Windbeneathmywings was bought with two bumper wins and a second to his name in Ireland and his then trainer, Pat Flynn, told us how highly he regarded him and so he proved with his win at Ascot on Friday. He is the type of horse that could also run on the flat as well and so it is great to have such an exciting young horse at Pond House.”
Another interesting horse from the Elliott yard who might just rock up here is Jalon d’Oudairies (8/1).
He was placed in last season’s Cheltenham bumper, but later pulled a muscle and he still hasn’t been seen out on a racecourse. Elliott still maintains he is a nice horse and shows a lot of class, so he could turn out to be an interesting sleeper in this field.
A mare to take seriously come the Festival will be Thomas Cooper’s Amen Kate (14/1), who was an impressive socerer at Limerick in late September. The daughter of Flemensfirth quickened up in sparkling fashion and she could well go off at a decent price in the Wednesday flat showpiece.
Champion Bumper antepost tip: Amen Kate (E/W)
Cheltenham Festival 2025 Tip 14
The St James’s Place Festival Hunter Chase is often referred to as the amateur riders’ Gold Cup, as it is run over the same course and distance as the Gold Cup itself. This year’s renewal will take place on Friday 14th March 2025.
Until 2020 it was known as the Foxhunters’ Chase, but the word “fox” was removed from the title prior to the 2021 running.
To qualify, a horse must have finished first or second twice in hunter chases, or have won two open point-to-point races, or have won one open point-to-point race and finished first or second in a hunter chase.
Female jockeys have done particularly well in recent years, with Nina Carberry (twice a winner), Bryony Frost, Harriet Tucker and Maxine O’Sullivan all victorious since 2015.
So who are the Hunter Chasers to look out for this year?
Its On The Line (5/2) had been second to Sine Nomine in the St James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase at last year’s Cheltenham Festival before going to Aintree a few weeks later to land the Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase over the somewhat shorter 2m5f trip.
It remains to be seen whether the JP McManus-owned hunter chaser is quite as effective back over the 3 miles 2½ furlong trip at Cheltenham and many punters will be looking to take him on.
Popular in the current antepost betting is Angels Dawn (5/1) who top Irish point-to-point trainer Sam Curling is hoping can repeat her Cheltenham Festival heroics from two years ago.
After landing both her starts in point-to-points this season there’s plenty of grounds for optimism.
The ten-year-old gave Curling a landmark success and his first festival winner when the gutsy mare repelled Stumptown in a pulsating finish to the 2023 Kim Muir.
Bargain buy Sine Nominee (7/1) is trained by Fiona Needham and won this race last year.
So far this season she’s yet to complete under Rules and a quick return to the hunter chase sphere is probably needed for the likable grey. It will be a tall order however to go back-to-back in a race such as this.
Winged Leader (8/1) suffered an agonisingly cruel defeat by Billaway in the dying strides of the 2022 hunter chase at The Festival, but he still remains at the top of his game and at the time of writing has just clocked up the latest leg of an astonishing FIFTEEN-timer!
Trainer David Christie decided not to send the eleven-year-old over to Prestbury Park last season, but given the veteran’s domination of the current Irish point-to-point scene, he must be sorely tempted to tackle the big one again.
Hunter Chase antepost tip: Winged Leader (E/W)
Cheltenham Festival 2025 Tip 13
The Ultima Handicap Chase is a 3m1f handicap chase run at the Cheltenham Festival. It is the first of five handicap chases run at the festival. Winners of the race often take part in the Grand National and some well known horses have achieved victory in both events including Royal Tan, Team Spirit, West Tip, Seagram, Rough Quest and Corach Rambler.
Novices and second season chasers have tended to do well, plus it is worth remembering that you need to go all the way back to 2006 for the last Irish-trained winner, when Dun Doire won for Tony Martin.
With the race always being a wide open affair, punters are keen to get stuck into the large each-way prices. For some this contest is the ultimate betting race during Cheltenham week.
So who are the horses to look out for? Which horses are Ultima types?
Haiti Couleurs (12/1) is currently one of the joint favourites for the race, but punters beware. Trainer Rebecca Curtis has indicated that she is navigating a route to the National Hunt Chase at The Festival.
The eight-year-old has made a fine start to his career over fences this season, with a runner-up finish on his debut at Chepstow followed by a couple of decent victories at Aintree and Cheltenham.
The Ultima isn’t totally off the table however, but you would feel much more confident if you at a docket for the 0-145 National Hunt Chase in your hand.
Gordon Elliott’s final winner of 2024 came in the shape of Shannon Royale (12/1) who got off the mark over fences at Punchestown under Jordan Gainford.
Owned by Robcour, the seven-year-old is exactly the type of chaser Elliott likes to send over to contest these long-distance handicaps. His pedigree fits the bill and he looks an interesting sort.
Third in the Grade One Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton over Christmas, the Alan King trained Masaccio (12/1) would be just the candidate to step out of Graded affairs and into handicap company and do well.
The eight-year-old must be sick of keep seeing the back end of The Jukebox Man and a staying handicap would be much more up his street. The McNeill family do well with chasers of this ilk and I believe they will be keen to tackle the Ultima.
Trained by Jonjo and AJ O’Neill, Springwell Bay (12/1) won impressively on New Year’s Day at Cheltenham.
With Jonjo O’Neill Junior in the saddle, Springwell Bay nicely picked off the pace-setting Seddon up the home straight.
Springwell Bay has progressed from a nice hurdler to a pretty decent chaser and his record around Cheltenham is exemplary. He could well be the antepost answer to this Ultima conundrum.
Ultima Handicap Chase antepost tip: Springwell Bay (E/W)
Cheltenham Festival 2025 Tip 12
The final day of the Festival sees the JCB Triumph Hurdle take place, the season’s championship contest for juvenile hurdlers.
With the four-year-old participants very much at the start of their careers, it is no surprise many horses from this contest go on to bigger and better things.
Four horses have won the Triumph and the Champion Hurdle, with the most recent being Katchit.
Persian War won this in 1967 before landing three consecutive Champion Hurdles (1968-70), while Tiger Roll landed the spoils in 2014 and we all know what an epic journey he went onto after that.
Can any of this year’s contenders emulate the aforementioned runners?
East India Dock put himself firmly into the Triumph Hurdle picture with a facile second win from just two starts over hurdles in the Grade Two JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial.
His 18-length Cheltenham victory in the hands of Sam Twiston-Davies came just less than three weeks on from his successful National Hunt debut for James Owen at Wincanton. Prior to that, the Golden Horn three-year-old was trained by James Fanshawe, for whom he won twice on the Flat.
Bred by the Gredley family, East India Dock followed his half-brother Burdett Road, who also won the same trial last year, also for Owen.
Leading Triumph Hurdle fancy Hello Neighbour will bid for Grade One glory at the Dublin Racing Festival next before hopefully heading to Prestbury Park in March.
Gavin Cromwell’s runner is unbeaten after two wins on the Flat and a debut victory over obstacles at Leopardstown.
Sent off the 9-4 favourite for the Grade Two O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey Juvenile Hurdle, Hello Neighbour just held on by a short-head from the Willie Mullins-trained Lady Vega Allen.
Speaking of Lady Vega Allen, the mare is related to Quevega and she ran a very big race on debut for Willie Mullins. Beaten by the smallest of margins over Christmas, she still has to be in with a live shout for the Triumph Hurdle.
Another interesting potential runner is Lulamba who won a decent three-year-old hurdle in France early October, was then discovered by scouts and was brought over to the Nicky Henderson yard at the end of the same month. His official trainer switch was registered as January 6th 2025, but he was on these shores and being schooled well before then.
Bought on behalf of Mrs J Donnelly, the gelding hails from the yard of Arnaud Chaille-Chaille who has been in exceptional form and sent out 17 different Juvenile Hurdle winners in France in 2024. It is easy to see why Henderson likes this horse.
Triumph Hurdle antepost tip: Lulamba (E/W)
Cheltenham Festival 2025 Tip 11
The Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, registered as the Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle is one of the newest races at the Cheltenham Festival, having first been staged in 2016.
In its early years it was a contest initially dominated by Willie Mullins, who trained the first five winners, however the last four have come from four different trainers, so perhaps the Mullins domination of the race is no longer a thing?
The last five renewals of this two mile hurdle have ALL been won by a six-year-old mares, so that’s another significant trend to bear in mind when placing your bets.
Who are the 2025 Mares Novices Hurdle contenders?
The six-year-old Willie Mullins-trained Maughreen, was a general 5-1 chance for the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham last season after cruising to an 11-length success on her debut in a bumper at Punchestown in the January, but failed to make the race due to a small setback.
In his horses to follow for the 2024/25 season, son Patrick said he was really looking forward to getting Maughreen back on the track. Sired by Walk In The Park and from the same family of Faugheen, she put in a huge performance when she won at Punchestown, with the third and fourth home that day subsequently becoming winners themselves. She has the size and scope to go on and jump hurdles and the Mullins team are hoping she can make into a Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle horse this season.
There was a brilliant performance from Jubilee Alpha in the Byerley Stud Mares Listed Hurdle at Taunton over the Christmas period. Trained by Paul Nicholls and ridden by Harry Cobden, the mare was electric and will surely enter the trainer’s Cheltenham calculations for March.
Nicholls will first take in the £37,500 Mares’ Novice Hurdle on the final day of the Winter Million meeting at Windsor on January 19th, so you may want to take the current 8/1 available about her now before she runs at that fixture.
Grey mare Kientzheim is everything Nicky Henderson expected her to be after she was purchased from France.
Trained by Armand Lefeuvre, who was also responsible for Champion Hurdle winner Epatante, she won two of her three races in AQPS Flat races – one at Pornichet and the other at Angers.
A going away winner of a 2m Maiden Hurdle at Kempton Park on Boxing Day, she is an exciting JP McManus purchase and the Dawn Run will be her ultimate goal this season.
Trainer Harry Fry has been a little short on ammunition in the last few seasons, but he appears to have a nice mare on his hands in the shape of Anno Power.
The six-year-old made a winning debut over hurdles ridden by Johnny Burke at Sandown on November 10th and the narrow margin of victory didn’t tell the full story. Rated highly by the Fry stable, she proved top class in her bumpers last season.
Sporting the colours of Pat and Edward Dolan-Abrahams, Anno Power has now embarked on a programme that will hopefully take her to the Mares Novice Hurdle final at Cheltenham in March.
Mares Novices Hurdle antepost tip: Anno Power (E/W)
Cheltenham Festival 2025 Tip 10
The Queen Mother Champion Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt Chase run over a distance of 2 miles, with 12 fences to be jumped. It will take place on Wednesday 12th March 2025.
Former champions include Altior, Sprinter Sacre, Master Minded, Kauto Star and Moscow Flyer, but which name will be joining them on that esteemed trophy this season?
It’s hard to believe that Nicky Henderson’s Jonbon is not yet a Champion Chaser, nor even a winner at the Cheltenham Festival for that matter.
Having finished second to stablemate Constitution Hill in the 2022 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, he again filled the runner-up spot behind El Fabiolo in the 2023 Arkle before missing the 2024 Festival due to a virus in the Henderson yard.
2025 however looks like being Jonbon’s year. After he won the Tingle Creek Chase for the second straight year, our trading team tweaked his price down to 11/4 for the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
It’s highly likely that the nine-year-old will arrive at Prestbury Park next March unbeaten this season, and his latest antepost odds of 11/4 will look like an absolute gift come race day.
Jonbon is one of very few British-trained horses to head the betting for a Grade One at next year’s festival, but he’s a worthy one at that and all punters can currently do is ponder over who could possibly beat him?
Bettors out there believe Gaelic Warrior is Jonbon’s biggest threat at the Cheltenham Festival in March, but the Arkle winner will need to sparkle over the Christmas holiday period to justify that confidence.
Willie Mullins’ seven-year-old is pencilled in to run in the 2m1f Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase (Grade 1) at Leopardstown, a race for which he is the strong even money favourite.
Should he win the contest, his current price of 7/2 is sure to tighten up so you may want to pin your colours to the mast early.
The day after Jonbon dominated the latest Tingle Creek, Energumene proved his considerable ability remains very much intact with a successful return from 20 months away in the Hilly Way Chase at Cork.
The Willie Mullins-trained 10-year-old had claimed the Grade 1 prize in both 2021 and 2022, kicking off two wonderful seasons which both included victory in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Energumene’s odds to land a third Champion Chase are currently 6/1 which many punters will be keen to get stuck into at this juncture.
The Willie Mullins-trained El Fabiolo lined up as one of the shortest-priced favourites at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival, but blotted his copy book in the Champion Chase with a bad early blunder which ultimately caused him to pull up.
He was the second to Jonbon in the end of season Celebration Chase at Sandown, which he probably went into a little bit jaded from his Cheltenham exploits.
If he returns this season in good heart and gets to the Festival in peak fitness, then he also has to enter calculations with his latest price being 8/1.
Champion Chase antepost tip: El Fabiolo (E/W)
Cheltenham Festival 2025 Tip 9
The Turners Novices’ Hurdle- registered as The Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle, takes place on day two of the Cheltenham Festival and is the top race for novice hurdlers over the trip of 2m5f.
It has previously been the launchpad for the likes of Istabraq, Hardy Eustace and Faugheen, all of whom went on to win the Champion Hurdle the following season.
So who are the main contenders for 2025?
Last season’s Champion Bumper winner Jasmin De Vaux didn’t impress everyone when winning on his hurdles debut at Navan, but did enough to currently lead the ante-post market at odds of 10/1.
His jumping was not without error but he is sure to come on plenty for the experience and could well turn up in the Turners next March. Whether he should be the favourite at this juncture is debatable?
Potters Charm secured a resounding victory in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in November and was immediately cut by our trading team to 16-1 from 25-1 for the Turners Novices’ Hurdle at the Festival.
Assistant trainer Willy Twiston-Davies said after the victory: “He’s shown a lot of speed there so I imagine he’s a Ballymore (Turners) horse. The Albert Bartlett can be a bit of a graveyard.”
The Willie Mullins-trained Kopek Des Bordes is rather interesting too at odds of 16/1.
A half-brother to six winners, including Utopie des Bordes who won a Grade 1 in France, he got off to a flyer on his debut at Fairyhouse where he won the valuable George Mernagh Memorial Sales Bumper by 13 lengths.
He holds an entry in the Savills Maiden Hurdle at Leopardstown on December 28th, and should he win that, it’s highly likely that his odds will be trimmed once more.
Dan Skelton added another exciting name to the current Turners betting when The New Lion extended his unbeaten record in the 2m4½f novice hurdle at Newbury at the end of November.
With a potential run in the William Hill Formby Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree on Boxing Day coming up, it may prove prudent to take some of the current 16/1 available on him for the Turners Novices’ Hurdle.
Third to Jasmin De Vaux in the Champion Bumper, Gordon Elliott’s Jalon D’oudairies is yet to be seen in public this season, but should be a interesting prospect over hurdles once he does.
The Yellow Clay was installed as the new favourite for the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival after impressively taking the Grade 3 Monksfield Novice Hurdle at Navan.
A run in that race isn’t entirely guaranteed so a small interest at 20/1 for this race is something to add to your Cheltenham ante-post portfolio.
Turners Novices Hurdle antepost tip: Kopek Des Bordes (E/W)
Cheltenham Festival 2025 Tip 8
The Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase is a Grade 3 contest run over 2m½f on the second day of the Cheltenham Festival.
The most successful trainer in the history of the Grand Annual is Paul Nicholls, who has trained the winner of the race on four occasions. Nicholls’ winners have been: St Pirran (2004), Andreas (2007), Solar Impulse (2016), and Le Prezien (2018).
Ask someone to name a famous winner of the Grand Annual and most people will mention the 1998 victor Edredon Bleu, who proved to be a particularly talented horse in this race and further down the line.
So who is in the reckoning for the 2025 renewal?
Second in the Grand Annual at last year’s Festival before rounding off his season with a third-place finish in a Grade One contest at Aintree, Libberty Hunter can be a major player once more next March.
After making a successful start to his campaign at Cheltenham’s December meeting in a 2m½f Handicap Chase, Evan Williams’ eight-year-old could quite easily hold his own at a graded level and will gave anyone a race back in another premier handicap.
Our traders rated Djelo a 12-1 chance for the Ryanair Chase after he demolished his rivals in the Peterborough Chase, but he could well follow the Grand Annual route for which they have installed him an 8/1 poke.
Venetia Williams will find it hard to not go down the Ryanair path if the Djelo keeps doing the business at the top level, but if his form was to take a small dip between now and March, a run in the Grand Annual looks more likely.
Jonbon easily put JPR One to the sword in the Tingle Creek, but the Tizzard representative ran with credit to be fair, and that level of form would translate well to a handicap chase should connections go down that path.
He was a very impressive Grade 2 winner when landing the Haldon Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Exeter, and the €48,000 purchase is certainly paying his way for his owner John Romans.
After landing this race last year, the Skelton’s indicated pre-season that they will try and work their way back to the Grand Annual this season with Unexpected Party.
After following Jonbon around from a distance for decent prizemoney in the Tingle Creek, it’s onto the Howden Graduation Chase on December 21st for the nine-year-old.
Many pundits have the Gordon Elliott-trained Touch Me Not pencilled in as a possible Grand Annual type and it is easy to see why from his superb novice chase efforts thus far.
The five-year-old youngster put up a bold show in the Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown and is a horse at slightly longer odds to keep an eye on.
Henry De Bromhead’s Dancing On My Own will be an eleven-year-old if he arrives at The Festival but he is still a very solid and reliable chaser.
He finished 5¾ lengths behind Calico at Cheltenham’s October meeting and at odds of around 20/1, he has to be of some each-way interest in the current Grand Annual ante-post market.
Grand Annual antepost tip: Touch Me Not (E/W)
Cheltenham Festival 2025 Tip 7
The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle is the championship race for 2 mile novice hurdlers and traditional curtain-raiser to the Festival. As such, it is now proudly accompanied by the famous Cheltenham roar as the tapes rise.
For the novices, this race is often a stepping stone to further glories down the line, with those involved in the finish frequently going on to be the superstars of the future.
Brave Inca and Constitution Hill went on to win the Champion Hurdle, while Binocular and Buveur d’Air both placed in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle before taking their respective turns to land the Champion.
Currently the ante-post betting market for the 2025 Supreme Novices’ is wide open with double figure odds bar the favourite. Let’s take a look at look at some of the possible contenders for the title:
French-bred Salvator Mundi (8/1) shot to the head of the betting after a 62-length romp at Tipperary last May.
He failed to shine in the Triumph Hurdle (beaten 17 lengths) but this son of No Risk At All has quickly turned the corner and knows exactly what he’s there to do on a racecourse, despite only being a four year-old.
There’s a lot to be said about purchasing a three-year-old with form in the book from Auteuil, especially if its an excellent second to none other than Sir Gino in the Listed Prix Wild Monarch (Poulains) Hurdle.
Cast your minds back to last year’s Festival and you may recall that Jeroboam Machin (12/1) was ruled out of the Cheltenham Festival just three days after being catapulted to the head of the Wetherbys Champion Bumper betting after incurring an injury that ruled him out for the remainder of that season.
Having taken his unbeaten bumper record to two in the Grade 2 Donohue Marquees Future Stars 2m Hurdle, winning it decisively by four and a quarter lengths under Derek O’Connor, it was really unfortunate that he never made it over to Prestbury Park.
A deep dive into that Future Stars results will show you just how good an effort that was by Emmet Mullins’ five-year-old.
Research will reveal that horses from that contest such as You Oughta Know, Redemption Day & The Yellow Clay, have all come out and won since – some on multiple occasions.
The Willie Mullins-trained Redemption Day (12/1) heads to Leopardstown on December 27th for the Grade 1 Future Champions Novice Hurdle, so you may want to have a flutter on him now for the Supreme, just in case he hoses up over the Christmas holidays.
It’s bound to be an informative race with many of the connections with horses entered having Supreme Novices’ Hurdle aspirations of their own.
A couple of horses that I’d personally consider having an each-way play on at this stage are Willie Mullins’ Karniquet (25/1) who was a nice sort in France last winter and got off to a flying start at Tramore in November, plus Minella Premier (25/1) who was a spectacular £400K purchase for owner Oliver Harris and has been placed in training with Nicky Henderson.
Supreme Novices Hurdle antepost tip: Jeroboam Machin (E/W)
Cheltenham Festival 2025 Tip 6
The Champion Hurdle is the feature race on day one of the Cheltenham Festival and this season it will take place on Tuesday 11th March, 2025.
A Grade One contest, the Champion Hurdle is run on the Cheltenham old course over a distance of 2 miles and 87 yards, and its roll of honour features hurdling greats such as Persian War, See You Then and Istabraq.
Will any of the 2025 participants become horse racing greats too? Here is an early look at the main protagonists:
Willie Mullins’ mare Lossiemouth (2/1) is the new Champion Hurdle favourite after cruising to victory in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse, easily putting previous winner Teahupoo to the sword.
After an unbeaten campaign last term that included Grade One victories at Cheltenham and Punchestown, the five-year-old looks better than ever and is a leading hope for the hurdling blue riband.
A former champion of the race is of course Constitution Hill (7/2), but at the time of writing Nicky Henderson’s star hurdler is somewhat in the doldrums.
Constitution Hill has not run since Boxing Day last year, and missed the Fighting Fifth Hurdle on 30th November due to lameness.
After winning the Christmas Hurdle last year. the horse missed the remainder of the season through a variety of reasons.
He then failed to impress when galloping with stablemate Sir Gino in a workout at Newbury in the run up to the Newcastle feature.
Odds of 7/2 will look massive on the day should his fortunes improve, but he’s undoubtably a risky proposition at this juncture.
Christmas is always an informative time of year in the National Hunt calendar and it will be interesting to see whether State Man (9/2) can reverse the Morgiana Hurdle form with Brighterdaysahead in the Matheson Hurdle at Leopardstown over the festive period.
Paul Townend has ridden the gelding on fifteen of his sixteen starts and he was won on him on eleven occasions. He’s also the defending Champion Hurdler so Townend may find it difficult to dessert him come crunch decision time.
If you happen to take the early 9/2 price you’ll be more than happy if Townend is your man in the saddle.
“We don’t have to decide here and now, but it does look like he’s staying in that hurdle game” were Nicky Henderson’s exact words when his super sub Sir Gino (5/1) waltzed home in the Fighting Fifth hurdle.
Nicky Henderson re-routed his chasing prospect to Newcastle and now faces the dilemma of holding Sir Gino back over the big fences this term, or sticking with the small flights.
Punters will hopefully take the Fighting Fifth result as the oddity it was, given that Sir Gino was only subbing on the day and that the joint-favourite Mystical Power (Willie Mullins) ran like a drain.
I would dearly love to suggest a lively outsider in the Champion Hurdle ante-post betting, but quite frankly – there isn’t one! The betting market has the odds completely right and the winner will come from the current top four horses.
Champion Hurdle antepost tip: State Man (WIN)
Cheltenham Festival 2025 Tip 5
The Cross Country Chase takes place on day two of the Cheltenham Festival and will take place this season on Wednesday 12th March 2025.
This unique race was introduced in 2005 as part of the extension of the Festival from three days to four. Sponsored for many years by Glenfarcas, the contest is run over three miles, six furlongs and 37 yards, with 32 obstacles have to be negotiated.
The Cross Country became a popular warm-up race for the following month’s Grand National at Aintree – a path taken by the likes of Cause of Causes (2017) and Tiger Roll(2018 & 2019). It remains to be seen if that trend will continue now that the race has become a handicap.
Here are some of the early contenders for the middle of the racecourse spectacular this year:
Stumptown (7/1) fended off all comers to land the Risk Of Thunder XC Chase at Punchestown on November 24th, and understandably went to the head of the ante-post betting market for the Cross Country Chase at The Festival.
Second in the 2023 Kim Muir and a winner of a top quality handicap chase at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day last season, he took really well to the banks course at Punchestown and certainly brings the best form to the table at this present moment in time.
Second in the recent American Grand National and fourth in last year’s Aintree Grand National, Gordon Elliott’s Galvin (7/1) will be a leading contender to take the cross country spoils if this race is used as his Liverpool stepping stone.
However, even though Galvin finished a close second to Delta Work in the 2023 edition of this race, the ten-year-old didn’t really seem to enjoy the November/December versions of the event so he’s turning into a little bit of a chancy bet nowadays.
Veteran chaser Delta Work (10/1) will be a twelve-year-old next March, and although it is not impossible to run a big race at that age – remember 14-year-old A New Story in 2010, your chances begin to diminish.
If Gordon Elliott is going to squeeze one more Grand National attempt out of the Gigginstown gelding (second last year), he may even forego running him at the Cheltenham Festival, so once again – be very wary.
Currently not listed in our betting, but highly probable starter is the Martin Keighley-trained Back On The Lash.
Owned by Harry Redknapp and friends, the ten-year-old has scored in the supporting cross country races at Cheltenham before, and just when we were beginning to think he was out of love with the event, he bounced right back to form with an excellent third in the November Cross Country Handicap Chase.
You would like to think that if he turns up in peak fitness next March, he would have some sort of outside chance over a course he excels at.
Cross Country antepost tip: Stumptown (E/W)
Cheltenham Festival 2025 Tip 4
The Arkle Novices’ Chase is the championship race for two mile novice chasers, known formally as the Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase.
Many Arkle Chase winners have subsequently have gone on to win the Queen Mother Champion Chase. That includes the likes of Moscow Flyer, Azertyuiop, Voy Por Ustedes, Sizing Europe, Sprinter Sacre, Altior and Put The Kettle On.
As you can see it is a very informative Cheltenham Festival race and punters like to get involved in it too.
So who are the main contenders this season and who should you consider having an early ante-post bet on?
Willie Mullins has won the Arkle for the last two years in a row with El Fabiolo and Gaelic Warrior, and his Ballyburn (11/4) holds a great chance of giving him three in a row.
The six-year-old produced one of the best performances at last year’s Festival when scooting home in the Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle by 13 lengths, and he should in turn make a great chaser.
At the time of writing (17.11.24), it’s still unclear when and where the six-year-old will make his seasonal bow.
Apparently Sir Gino (6/1) is schooling that well over fences that Nicky Henderson is to bring forward his unbeaten star’s chasing career, and has made the Arkle his Cheltenham Festival target this campaign.
The Grade 1-winning four-year-old had been set to stay over hurdles this season but a change of tact will see him following in the footsteps of the former stable stars Altior and Shishkin.
Henderson recently mentioned that he plans for Sir Gino to make his debut over fences in a Novice Chase at Kempton on Sunday November 25th, which is over 2m2f.
Firefox (7/1), the only horse to have beaten Ballyburn, spearheads Gordon Elliott’s top novice chasers this season, with the trainer hoping the six-year-old might develop into a live Arkle candidate.
Firefox made the first step along that road on November 1st when he was the impressive winner of the Beginners Chase at Down Royal.
The big powerful horse was still pulling hard at the top of the hill before easing away from Mossy Fern Park to take the first prize.
We’re likely to see Bective Stud horse line up next in the 2m4f Bar One Racing Drinmore Novice Chase (Grade 1) at Fairyhouse.
The Henry De Bromhead-trained Inthepocket (10/1) entered the Arkle reckoning after landing the Wexford Racecourse Members Supporters Club Beginners Chase on October 28th with consummate ease.
The seven-year-old was a high class hurdler with the Grade One Top Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree to his name, and he made a pleasing chasing debut when second at Navan in November last year.
He never ran again after that so his latest victory came after almost a year off, which is very impressive.
Those looking for a longer priced outsider may want to consider the Gordon Elliott-trained Down Memory Lane (20/1).
The JP McManus-owned six-year-old looked a useful sort when obliging in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase at Navan and he will probably run in the Drinmore (December 1st) next.
Arkle antepost tip: Firefox (E/W)
Cheltenham Festival 2025 Tip 3
The Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle, registered as the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle, is open to fillies and mares only.
First run in 2008, the race quickly made history with the legendary mare Quevega winning it six times in a row from 2009 to 2014. Other top class winners have included Apple’s Jade, Benie Des Dieux and Honeysuckle.
So which mare do we at William Hill think will win the race in 2025? Well, here are some possible candidates for the top prize:
Fergal O’Brien’s mare Dysart Enos (14/1) has won all six of her starts, including three times over hurdles last season which culminated in a seven-length romp company at Doncaster in January.
Unfortunately a minor setback that ruled Dysart Enos out of the Mares’ Hurdle last season which was a cruel blow to the O’Brien team.
It was an even bigger shame because he had plotted her extremely shrewdly, avoiding Graded races to prevent picking up penalties etc, and the stable all felt that she could give O’Brien his first success at the meeting.
She makes her long anticipated return in the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham on Sunday 17th November and we currently have her priced up at 3/1 to land that trophy.
Her handicap debut mark is 131, which shouldn’t cause her any issues, and at shortish odds she’s still a very solid bet in a competitive handicap.
If she wins this Prestbury Park feature with anything to spare, our traders will certainly be trimming her price down for next March.
Gordon Elliott is currently in pole position in antepost market for the Mares’ with his horse Brighterdaysahead (7/4).
She produced a huge performance to win at Down Royal at the start of November in the Bottlegreen Hurdle, and remains an exciting prospect for the rest of the season.
Elliott has muttered that the Champion Hurdle may well be her target but the chances of her turning up in the much easier 2m4f Mares Hurdle at the Festival are extremely high.
Willie Mullins declared Lossiemouth (2/1) a Champion Hurdle mare after she stormed to victory in last season’s Mares’ Hurdle, but will she actually line up in it?
After her victory last term, Mullins was quoted as saying: Mullins said: “She was great – she’s a Champion Hurdle mare, we all think.
“Once again, Paul was very cool on her and she can improve another year on, when she’s a bit older. Running like that, in that ground, she’s got everything.”
Whether that statement deters you from backing her for the Mares’ Hurdle at 2/1 is entirely your prerogative.
And finally, sent off second-favourite for the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle behind Gordon Elliott’s Brighterdaysahead, Jade De Grugy (4/1) ultimately finished fourth behind the 2024 winner Golden Ace.
A month later she was back to winning ways in the Grade 1 Honeysuckle Mares’ Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse.
If the Kenny Alexander-mare continues this season on the same trajectory, then she will be a force to be reckoned with in the mares division, including this race.
Mares Hurdle antepost tip: Dysart Enos (E/W)
Cheltenham Festival 2025 Tip 2
The Queen Mother Champion Chase is a Grade One National Hunt steeplechase race, run over two miles with thirteen fences to jump and will take place at Cheltenham Racecourse on Wednesday 12th March 2025.
At the time of writing (November 5th) the antepost betting market for the race looks wide open. Let’s take a look through the main protagonists…
Nicky Henderson’s eight-year-old Jonbon was ruled out of the 2024 Champion Chase on the eve of the Festival but will be hoping to make up for last time in this two mile feature.
Henderson and his owner JP McManus have resisted the temptation of stepping Jonbon up in trip this season, with the partnership instead plotting a path to the Champion Chase.
The gelding won the Grade 1 Melling Chase over two and a half miles last term and will start off his new campaign in the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham in November, a race he won last season. Next will follow the Tingle Creek and the Clarence House Chases.
All things being equal, Jonbon looks to be the horse they will all need to beat in the Champion Chase and his current odds of 3/1 will be tempting for many punters.
Willie Mullins has indicated that his Arkle scorer Gaelic Warrior will be pencilled in initially for the Champion Chase.
Speaking at his open day just before the season started, Mullins told reporters: “He disappointed me a little at Punchestown but that was at the end of the season and he got a bump along the way.
“I imagine we’ll probably start off thinking he’s a Champion Chase horse and if he has to go up in trip that would be fine, the Ryanair is there and the Gold Cup is there. He jumps a bit to his right but he has an engine and sometimes you just have to put up with those little quirks.”
Gaelic Warrior is currently priced up at 4/1 with us here at William Hill and he has plenty of supporters in the betting already.
When Jonbon was scratched from last year’s Champion Chase, El Fabiolo became the odds-on favourite to win.
However, El Fabiolo fluffed his lines on the day and was pulled up after jinking at the first fence, leaving Captain Guinness to take the honours at big odds in the Wednesday feature.
We all know however that El Fabiolo is a much better horse than that and can recall him and Jonbon having some memorable battles over the years, most recently when Jonbon won the Celebration Chase at Sandown in April.
For the good of the sport, National Hunt racing fans will be hoping that the two will meet again at The Festival.
Queen Mother Champion Chase antepost tip: Jonbon (WIN)
Cheltenham Festival 2025 Tip 1
It’s thirty years since the French last had the winner of the Gold Cup at Cheltenham, so you could say they are well overdue another, but they appear to have a live candidate with a strong chance this year in the shape of Il Est Francais (20/1 in our horse racing betting).
The Noel George & Amanda Zetterholm trained six-year-old has won four of his five starts over fences to date, with his smartest victory coming at Kempton last Boxing Day when he put in one of the performances of the season.
He made horses such as Hermes Allen, Giovinco and Kilbeg King look pretty ordinary when landing the Grade One Kauto Star Novices’ Chase.
The son of Karaktar made a successful seasonal reappearance when cruising home in the Grade Three Prix Richard et Robert Hennessy at Auteuil at the end of September.
With Il Est Francais coming home tailed off in his final outing of last term at Auteuil in April, it was nice to see the horse bounce back in emphatic style. jumping well throughout over two miles and six furlongs on heavy ground.
Toscana Du Berlais was also on the premises turning for home, but Il Est Francais pulled away to oblige by seven lengths under James Reveley.
Noel George indicated afterwards that his star horse would return to Auteuil for the Prix La Haye Jousselin in November, before heading over to England for a crack at the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day.
If he was to land the coveted Christmas feature then he would certainly be in with a live chance in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Owned by Richard Kelvin-Hughes and Haras De Saint-Voir, Il Est Francais shows plenty of similarities to some of the French greats that have gone before him.
The Fellow won the Prix La Haye Jousselin on his way to landing the 1991 King George, while First Gold completed the double in 2000.
They both contributed to some golden years for French staying chasers in the UK, so we maybe on the verge of something great once more.
As we all know, Galopin Des Champs is the horse they all must beat in the Gold Cup having doing it twice already, but to win three of them on the bounce is going to require one herculean effort and this could well be the season to take him on.
With a high standard of novice chasers on the scene this season, Il Est Francais could be set to take on a strong field in the Gold Cup in 2025. If successful he will become the fourth seven-year-old to win the race in the last sixteen renewals.
Cheltenham Gold Cup antepost tip: Il Est Francais (20/1 EW)
*All prices correct at the time of writing – odds subject to change*
When is the 2025 Cheltenham Festival?
The Cheltenham Festival 2025 will take place between Tuesday 11th and Friday 14th March.
This year Cheltenham Racecourse will celebrate 101 years of the Gold Cup, the pinnacle event of the National Hunt calendar.
This is the one race they all long to win and every horse, jockey, trainer, breeder, owner and racing fan will have their sights set on the Cotswolds.
Four breathtaking days of top class action will see a total of 28 races contested and numerous champions crowned.
There will be plenty of interest in the horse racing betting too that week. So, what can we expect each day at the Cheltenham Festival?
DAY 1 – Champion Day (11th March)
The Grade 1 Supreme Hurdle raises the curtain to the Cheltenham Festival with a famous roar. Last year we saw Slade Steel land the spoils for popular Irish trainer Henry de Bromhead.
The feature race of the day is the Champion Hurdle and last year State Man came home in emphatic style under Paul Townend for Willie Mullins and owner Mrs J Donnelly.
Jumping with speed, precision and accuracy, the hurdling superstar landed Willie Mullins yet another Champion Hurdle winner.
DAY 2 – Festival Wednesday (12th March)
Captain Guinness was a surprise winner of the 2024 Queen Mother Champion Chase but the returning Energumene – off for the whole of last season after suffering a setback – will bid to claim his third success in the race.
Fact To File took the Grade 1 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase with ease to give the formidable partnership of JP McManus and Willie Mullins another winner.
It was a performance that caught the eye and they will be targeting the Cheltenham Gold Cup with him this season. He will prove to be a popular pick in the Cheltenham betting odds.
DAY 3 – St Patrick’s Thursday (13th March)
The Cheltenham Festival is a second home to the Irish and St Patrick’s Thursday reflects this both on and off the track. The day itself features the Ryanair Chase and the Stayers Hurdle.
However, it was the home team that celebrated victory in the Ryanair Chase as Protektorat got up to claim a Festival triumph for Dan Skelton, while the Stayers Hurdle went to Gordon Elliott once again as favourite Teahupoo justified the odds to go a couple better than the previous year.
DAY 4 – Gold Cup Day (14th March)
The day features the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the blue riband race of jumping. The pre-race tension, the exhilaration of the race and the jubilations afterwards make it a truly remarkable day.
The 2024 renewal was won by the Willie Mullins-trained Galopin Des Champs.
Mullins has now won four of the last six renewals of the race, with fellow Irish trainer Henry De Bromhead winning the other two.
Galopin Des Champs now has the chance to rewrite the history books by winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup for the third year in a row, but can he emulate the likes of Best Mate? What an achievement that would be.
